Home Preparation

Home stagers, photographers, real estate agents, home buyers, home inspectors, and tradesmen will be entering your home. Please secure all valuables including but not limited to the below:

• Jewelry
• Money
• Heirlooms
• Medications
• Bank & credit card statements
• Private documents
• Secure / hide safes
• Hide passwords
• Secure any other valuables

When leaving home take important medications with you.

Repair items prior to property disclosure & home inspection. If something breaks after property disclosure or home inspection and prior to close please notify your listing broker.

General

• Paint / Touch-ups
• Caulk

Electrical

• Replace broken switches, outlets and light fixtures
• Upgrade outlets to GFCI were required
• Replace all burned out light bulbs
• Test Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Plumbing

• Fix water leaks / dripping faucets
• Fix shower diverter
• Secure / fix leaking toilets
• Unclog drains

Let’s make the buyer feel right at home.

The most important rooms in your home to focus on: Living Room, Family Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Primary Bedroom/Bath.

Declutter & Depersonalize

• Now is the time to decide what you would like to Keep, Store, Sell, Donate, and Toss
• Take down family photos from walls and surfaces
• Remove excess décor & furniture
• Remove seasonal items
• Remember less is really more

Furniture & Décor Placement

• Rearrange furniture to create open pathways and highlight areas
• Store excess furniture to create openness
• Add furniture to help buyer visualize layout

Accessories & Finishing Touches

• Add fresh flowers, potted plants, décor
• Add mirrors, abstract artwork
• Paint neutral tones or white
• White bedding, towels & shower curtains

Flooring

• Vacuum & have carpet rugs cleaned
• Wipe down baseboards
• Mop wood and stone floors
• Wax wood floors
• Clean floor vents
• Fix carpet indentations from furniture rearrangement

Walls

• Touch up paint, scuff marks, wipe away spots and fingerprints
• Repair holes
• Clean vents
• Dust wall corners & baseboards
• Paint Walls with neutral colors
• Wipe down doors
• Wipe down outlet & switch covers
• Take down family and excess decorations
• Add mirrors or abstract paintings

Windows & Doors

• Make sure windows and doors open, close & lock
• Clean windows & screens
• Clean & dust shutters, curtains, drapes and blinds
• Open all blinds and curtains for natural light
• Remove bulky valances and heavy dark curtains

Countertops & Shelves

• Declutter & depersonalize
• Wipe down all counters
• Dust lamps shades

Pets

• Remove food and water bowls, beds, cages, litter trays, toys and specialized pet equipment
• Neutralize pet odor

Kitchen

• Remove magnets & pictures from the refrigerator
• Remove floor mats
• Declutter countertops
• Store away small appliances
• Put away dishes and towels
• Empty trash & hide waste bins
• Wipe down all cabinet doors and knobs
• Wipe down appliances & counters
• Clean out pantry and toss expired items
• Hide pet bowls and beds

Bathroom

• Clean toilet bowls, tile, grout
• Clean mirrors & glass surfaces
• Clean faucets & showerheads
• Only one or two folded towels on rod
• Freshen toilet with clear bleach drop-ins
• Add plants & unused scented candle
• Replace: dark shower curtain and towels with white shower curtain and towels
• Hide all personal care items and garbage can
• Clean ventilation hood and exhaust fan
• Unclog drains
• Caulk around tub
• Remove shower soaps, shampoos, loofahs, floor mats, scales, toilet tank items
• Keep toilet seat down

Tip: Use shower caddies to quickly store away items during photography and open houses.

Bedrooms

• Make all beds & put away clothing
• Open blinds and curtains for natural light
• Declutter small items (picture frames, perfumes, clocks, books) from bedside tables and dressers
• Declutter closets (see closets)

Closets

• Store out-of-season clothing
• Donate clothes you no longer wear
• Add extra empty hangers
• Leave extra space on shelves
• Remove items from floor
• Keep closets no more than 70% full

Basement

• Clean window wells and storage area

Utility Closet / HVAC

• Clean off water heater and furnace
• Change out air filter
• Vacuum / mop floor
• Wipe clean washer and dryer
• Hide or wash dirty laundry & towels

Garage

• Dust / leaf blow flooring, windows, walls, ceiling and garage door tracks
• Clean windows
• Store away unused yard items
• Arrange yard items and equipment neatly
• Toss items your not taking with you

Exterior (Curb Appeal)

• Inspect gutters, siding, windows, roof shingles
• Replace broken windows, doors and screens
• Clean exterior windows & screens
• Clean Gutters
• Clean outdoor furniture
• Clean Grill
• Clean & touch up paint
• Power wash outdoor surfaces & driveway
• Remove all dead limbs
• Remove all weeds from flower beds and concrete cracks
• Remove wilted or dead plants
• Trim bushes and trees
• Add potted plants & annuals
• Mulch flower beds
• Cut grass and edge lawn
• Sweep / leaf blow patios, decks and walkways
• Tuck away garbage cans

Photo Shoot, Open House, Private Showing, Home Inspection

• Turn all interior & exterior lights on, including storage areas and walk in closets
• Tuck away laundry
• Take medications & valuables with you
• Turn off computers & hide passwords
• Please vacate the premises

Kitchen

• Put away dishes, place mats, small appliances
• Wipe down sink & counters
• Empty garbage

Bathroom

• Toilet seats down
• Tuck away personal shower items
• Remove shower soaps, shampoos, cleaning cloths
• Remove floor mats, scales, toilet tank items
• Clean mirrors & glass surfaces
• Empty garbage
• Hang towels neatly

Pets

• Hide pet food & dishes
• Take all pets with you

Exterior

• Cut grass and edge lawn
• Leaf blow driveway & walkways

Final Walk Through

• Wipe down all counter tops & shelves
• Wipe down interior and exterior of cabinets
• Vacuum carpet
• Mop wood and stone surfaces
• Clean out refrigerator
• Cut grass and leaf blow
• Turn all interior & exterior lights on, including storage areas and walk in closets

The Day Of Closing

• Remove all refuse and personal items
• Leave in broom clean condition
• Leave extra keys and garage door openers in kitchen
• Leave appliance manuals & warrantees in kitchen